Pies Appointed Science Content Editor

Pies Appointed Science Content Editor

Longtime Psychiatric Times
columnist and editorial board member Ronald Pies, M.D., has been named science content
editor of the publication effective this month.

Described by colleagues as "a pre-eminent scholar of psychopharmacology" and
"one of the outstanding medical writers in our profession," Pies is clinical professor
of psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine and author/co-author of
numerous clinical journal articles, book chapters and books, including the Handbook of Essential Psychopharmacology,
Second Edition (2005), Handbook of
Geriatric Psychopharmacology (2002), The
Difficult-to-Treat Psychiatric Patient (2001), and Clinical Manual of Psychiatric Diagnosis and Treatment: A Biopsychosocial Approach (1994), all available from
American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc., and A
Consumer's Guide to Choosing the Right Psychotherapist (1997; Jason
Aronson).

In the newly created content editor position, Pies will recommend topics and
possible writers for the publication, evaluate submitted articles or proposals,
collaborate with the editorial board and editorial staff, and encourage more
reader involvement, among other responsibilities.

Pies perceives the role of science content editor
as one of expanding the depth, breadth and credibility of the publication.

"To borrow from the testimony of our newest chief justice, I see the science
content editor as serving as a kind of 'referee,'" he said. "The science editor
should not have an ideological 'axe to grind'; rather, he or she should focus
on the quality of evidence and the cogency of ideas, in any given piece. The
science editor may need to step in and call a 'foul' if an article distorts the
best available evidence or reaches a conclusion that clearly does not follow
from the data presented. I also see my job as one of providing scientific
context for claims that otherwise may arouse controversy. For example, many of
the claims made with respect to antidepressants and suicide risk fail to
provide the necessary context by which we can understand and make use of these
findings."

Pies wants to not only continue Psychiatric
Times' tradition of high quality publishing but also to enhance it.

"In the past 20 years, I believe that PT
has provided both a 'university in print' for our readers and a forum for
voicing their views on a multitude of controversial issues. The topics we have
covered have spanned the entire spectrum of clinical and research issues in
psychiatry; yet, PT's articles are
succinct and to the point, which cannot always be said for other psychiatric
publications," he said. "I also believe that PT has taken journalistic risks that have broadened the lives and
views of our psychiatric colleagues. PT
has often ventured into areas, such as the relationship of spirituality and
creativity to psychiatry, that are usually neglected by other psychiatric
publications. We have also given voice to younger colleagues and residents in
our field, which has kept PT fresh
and relevant to those just entering psychiatry."